any experiences of discrimination you may have faced throughout your life

You will be asked about your experiences at work, in education, in healthcare, and about your personal safety. We want to collect as much information as possible, but you don’t have to answer every question if you don’t want to. The survey is anonymous: no one will be able to tell who you are at any point.

Our partnership working has paid off as Shirebrook is to receive a £1.26million investment from central government.

This government funding is the result of the ‘NG20 multi-agency’ team’s efforts to resolve the impact of a growing population.

Councillor Ann Syrett, Council Leader and instrumental in forming the group, said, “Shirebrook has borne the brunt of this population explosion and I’m pleased that the hard work of the NG20 team over the past couple of years has eased the pressure. This cash injection is the government’s recognition of that hard work and will go some way in enabling us to deal with some of the town’s infrastructure challenges”.

The cash comes from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Controlling Migration Fund and will be used on specific projects, mainly:

Supporting a healthy workforce program where blood pressure, health advice and much more will be on offer within the workplace.

Working with the Town Council to improve the Market Square and community areas, and

Supporting the improvement of standards in private rented housing and to tackle rogue landlords.

Councillor Syrett added, “I see the key areas being our schools and health services. They are especially feeling the strain of the increase in population; so we will be focusing on providing additional resources so they can deal with the extra patients and provide additional activities both within and after school.”

Mandy Chambers, Chair of Bolsover Partnership and the Shirebrook ‘NG20 Group’ said, “Securing funding for this ‘Building Resilience’ programme shows the strength of partnership working throughout Bolsover District. Our partners are committed to joint working for the benefit of local people and this is proof of how successful we can be when we pull together.”

Three empty houses in Carr Vale have been bought back into use thanks to a £120,000 investment.

The properties, located on Main Street in the village, had been empty for over a year, but thanks to a partnership between the landlord, the Council and Action Housing, they were passed to Action Housing on a 14 year lease and have now been transformed into 6 one-bedroom flats.

Cabinet Member for Social Enterprise, Councillor John Ritchie said, “When we first came to look at the houses six-months ago they were in dire need of repair and some TLC. And now we look at them today and they are fully refurbished and ready to move in to. This has to be good news for local people and the housing market.

“We don’t want to see boarded up houses or properties left empty for months or even years. So we are determined to work with landlords to make sure we have a good supply of properties available to rent for local people.”

The flats will now become available for the local housing market, which will meet a growing demand for this type of property in the village.

David Palmer, Action’s Head of Housing and Asset Development said, “Action Housing was really excited to work with Bolsover District Council to bring these empty properties back into use as much needed affordable housing.

“We are committed to working with our local authority partners to increase the supply of good quality affordable housing to help meet local housing needs, and we are looking forward to working with Bolsover Council on similar projects in the future.”

In addition to these properties we are also working with the owners of the Station Hotel in Creswell to refurbish it into 15 self contained flats that will not only bring back into use a derelict building but also improve the streetscape on Elmton Road.

We are eager to work with owners of empty properties to bring them back into use so if you own an empty property or know of an empty property in your area please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on 01246 242424.

Food lovers are in for a treat on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July as Bolsover Food and Drink Festival returns for a fourth year.

The popular event, which attracted over 6,000 visitors last year will once again fill the streets with culinary delights together with live music and street entertainment.

Bookings have been coming in since January with a wide variety of traders serving up all kinds of sweet and savoury morsels to enjoy at the event from our street food vendors or take home produce from specialist artisan producers together with a great selection of tasty tipples including several local real ales.

Award winning writer, cook book author and chef presenter, Richard Fox will be coming to Bolsover providing some tasty recipe ideas in our demonstration kitchen with opportunities to sample his creations. We also have a guest appearance from Chesterfield amateur cooks, Andy Reeves and Raechel Parker who were regional winners Channel 4’s My Kitchen Rules

There will be street performers, who have performed at events across the United Kingdom, most recently returning from Glastonbury providing their unique entertainment at the event together with live music over the two days.

“We’re expecting an even bigger selection of food and drink producers this year,” said Andrew Tristram, Bolsover Town Clerk. “Last year’s event was a huge success and this year looks like being our best ever with many new traders coming to the town, plus lots of entertainment and, of course, the sunshine!” he said.

“So it’s no surprise that stall holders have booked again, and this means we can expect an even bigger event this year. Look out for updates on our Facebook page.”

Bolsover Food and Drink Festival 2017 will take place in Bolsover Town Centre from 10am on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July and is free to visitors.

For more information about the event and about Bolsover, visit the website, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., follow @alloverbolsover on Twitter or like the Discover Bolsover Facebook page.

The Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Ros Kerslake, has been visiting Bolsover District Council’s £10m New Bolsover, New Beginnings project to see how it is progressing.

Ros and her colleagues enjoyed a brief presentation which outlined the history of the project and highlighted the achievements so far. She then went on a tour of the Model Village which included a visit to one of the community engagement projects called the Pumpkin Patch and a peek inside properties currently under refurbishment.

The Model Village is seeing major investment in the three-year project that is providing essential repairs and original architectural features restored.

Thanks to the help of the National Lottery players’, we are restoring and upgrading New Bolsover Model Village which was built by the Bolsover Colliery Company in 1891 to accommodate its workforce and is a lasting legacy to the coal mining industry which dominated life in the town from 1891 to 1993.

The project has also seen an innovative community development programme to encourage local people and participants alike to feel proud of their local area and appreciate its rich history.

Chief Executive of the HLF, Ros Kerslake OBE said. “I was delighted to get the chance to visit this visionary project, and to see how National Lottery players’ support is helping to preserve and important part of the UK’s coal mining heritage. New Bolsover represents a great example of how to successfully engage the local community in restoration and repair”.

Approx £10million is being spent on the project which is made up of £8million from Bolsover District Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA), £1.9million from Heritage Lottery Fund and £40k from Derbyshire County Council.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Mary Dooley said, “It’s great to see the Chief Executive of HLF so interested in our project and we look forward to welcoming her back as the scheme progresses. New Bolsover was a model of how to do things in the 19th century and, thanks to this inspirational project and National Lottery players, it will become a model of how to get the best out of historic properties in the 21st century.”

Over the last year, Youth Councillors have been busy organising a range of fundraising activities at schools and in the community in support of the charity. This included bag packing at a local food store, raffles and tombolas, choir singing at Dobbie’s Store in Barlborough and guess the name of the teddy.

The Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Mary Dooley who was at the cheque presentation, praised the young people for their kindness and generosity.

She said, “The Youth Councillors have been very creative in coming up with ways to raise awareness and funds, taking time out of school and sacrificing their lunchtimes to raise money. The amount raised will go directly to Teenage Cancer Trust to help them continue to provide excellent care and support to young people fighting cancer.”

The Youth Council is made up of pupils from all secondary schools within the District and the Council award them a budget to spend on projects it identifies each year.

The aims of the Youth Council are to consult with young people to improve service delivery, engage young people in local democratic processes, help schools with the teaching of citizenship and develop a positive image of young people across Bolsover District.

For more information about Young Voice, please call Richard Gadsby on telephone 01246 242300.

Pinxton Girls Can, a new campaign which is aims to inspire local women to get active by championing the successes of people just like them, is launching in Pinxton.

A localised version of This Girl Can, the hugely successful national campaign led by Sport England, Pinxton Girls Can will focus on the village of Pinxton and aims to break down barriers to women getting active.

Dedicated campaign pages have been set up on Facebook and on Instagram at @PinxtonGirlsCan, and organisers are keen to hear from local women who have a story to share, need help to get active, or would be interested in becoming a Pinxton Girls Can ambassador.

To kickstart the campaign local women are also invited to a Party in the Dark, where participants will be able to enjoy music, quizzes and Bingo, as well as having the chance to try dance-based activities such as Zumba and Latin in Line in short manageable blocks – all whilst helping to raise money for a worthy local cause.

The Pinxton Girls Can ‘Party in the Dark’ will be held on Wednesday, July 12 at Pinxton Village Hall from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Tickets must be booked in advanced, and can be purchased for a suggested minimum donation of £5 each, with all proceeds going to charity.

Andrea Stone, Development Manager at Derbyshire Sport, said: “We want to break down the barriers that women face when they think about being active. We want to show them that women just like them are active, having fun, and making new friends, and that they can do it too.

“We also want to hear from them – what do they enjoy doing, what keeps them from being active, what are their fears, what would they like to do, and what support do they need.

“All the activities, personal stories and ambassadors that are shared through Pinxton Girls Can will be specific to the area, making this a very local campaign.”

To find out more, or share your own photos or stories, visit the Facebook page or follow the campaign on Instagram at @PinxtonGirlsCan

The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has an Audit Committee to promote excellence in governance and financial reporting.

The Committee currently has a vacancy for one or more Independent Members, and is seeking people with the necessary skills, enthusiasm and commitment to be a member of the Committee and to bring a fresh external perspective to its work.

The purpose of the Committee is to provide independent assurance of the effectiveness of:

the governance arrangements of the Authority

the Authority’s risk management framework

the Authority’s financial management processes and the way this relates to the performance of services

The Committee meets four times a year although additional meetings may be called if there is urgent business to be considered. The successful applicant will need knowledge, skills and expertise of the public sector in respect of finance, audit and wider corporate governance.

Support and full access to the Authority’s learning and development programme of activities will be provided, however, no allowance shall be payable, as per the Authority’s policy on Committee Member Allowances, other than for travel and subsistence where applicable.

This position is not open to Members or employees of the Authority’s constituent councils and for the purpose of these appointments, a person is deemed ‘independent’ if the person is not (and hasn’t been for a minimum of 5 years) a member, co-opted member or officer of the Authority, is not a member, co-opted member or officer of a parish council for which the Authority is the principal authority, and is not a relative, or close friend, of a member, co-opted member or officer of the Authority.

Our first thoughts and deepest sympathies are for all those affected by recent events at the Grenfell Tower Block in West London, and to the members of the emergency services who responded to this tragic incident. The full details of what happened in London are not yet available and we would not want to speculate on the situation.

However, understandably there have been concerns about the risk to our own housing stock and to address this we are able to provide the following information.

We do not have any medium or high rise blocks of flats. However, as further information about the London fire becomes available, we will review the implications on all our housing stock.

We complete regular safety inspections of our sheltered housing schemes, including fire risk assessments which are carried out by a third party professional.

Some of the early concerns about Grenfell Tower are based around the type of cladding used. This is very different from the Rendered External Wall Insulation fitted by us to some properties. We use different materials and the method of installation is different.

In addition to housing stock, we also manage a portfolio of commercial premises, most notably Pleasley Vale Mills and The Tangent. These multi-tenanted properties have robust fire safety procedures in place which in recent years have been reviewed by the Fire Service. Fire Risk assessments are undertaken at relevant intervals by fire safety professionals and supported by frequent Health and Safety inspections and fire drills.

We will continue to provide information to Government who are collating data from across the country. We will review our practices in light of the event and are working to determine if we need to make any changes.

We trust that this provides all the necessary information to provide reassurance to tenants. However, please contact us if you need further information on 01246 242424.

We’ve had the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, but have you got what it takes to get nominated for the Bolsover District Sports Awards?

The search is on for the top sporting successes of the last year as the Bolsover Sports Awards aims to recognise and reward the top local sportsmen, women, volunteers, schools and clubs from across Bolsover District.

And this year, we have teamed up with the Bolsover District School Sport Partnership to include more emphasis on schools and young people. The categories are split into two sections – Community and Schools – and with 29 awards such as Sportsperson of the Year, School Team Achievements, Staff Volunteer and Team of the Year up for grabs, there is sure to be an award for you.

Nominations can be received from any individual, club or team involved in schools or sports organisations within Bolsover District and the nominee must be involved in a sport recognised by Sport England. Each category has qualifying criteria and must be based upon performances from September 2016 to August 2017.

Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor John Ritchie said, “We’ve refreshed the award categories so we can recognise the important part schools and young people play in sport. You don’t have to be a world beater or have won every medal in your sport – as it is also about the enjoyment and contribution people make to sport in general that we want to recognise and say ‘well done’.

“So, if you know someone who has overcome the odds to play, dedicated their life to sport or is a member of your club and displayed an outstanding level of personal achievement, then we want to hear from you.”

The awards ceremony will take place in October and the winners of the Bolsover District Awards will be submitted for the Derbyshire Sports Awards.

The deadline for nominations is 8 September 2017. Eligibility criteria (4.67MB) and application forms (Community (247kb) and School (250kb)) will be sent to all sports clubs and schools in Bolsover District asking for nominations and they can also be picked up from our offices or by telephoning 01246 242366.

We have unveiled plans for a £1million expansion of a Shirebrook business hub.

The Tangent Business Hub on Brook Park already provides 34 high quality business units which were constructed in 2012 at a cost of £4.7million. The project has been so successful that we have decided to expand the offering, introducing a new additional facility to meet a growing demand.

The investment will deliver seven brand new industrial units with roller shutter doors, ranging from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet and complimenting the existing managed workspace at The Tangent. The units will be licensed for B2 (general industrial), B8 (storage or distribution), B1b (research and development of products or processes) and B1c (for any industrial purpose) use.

The park itself offers plenty of car parking spaces as well as a cycling park for locally-based tenants and their work force who wish to commute by bike.

Council Leader, Councillor Ann Syrett said, “We are very excited about the potential these additional units can bring to the Tangent and wider area.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support and interest we have received, not just from local businesses who are keen to move in, but also from bigger businesses who want to come to the Park.

“In spite of the economic uncertainty, the interest shown indicates that Bolsover District is a place to do business and where industry is growing.”

The construction work is being managed by Rider Levett Bucknall and the construction work undertaken by Robert Woodhead Limited and has now started with a completion date of November 2017.

The new units will be let on competitive and flexible terms. To register your interest in the units please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on 01246 242389.

We have received national recognition for our very strong customer focused culture within and across the organisation.

An external audit of our services found that they are providing ‘excellent’ services to their local communities.

This year’s assessment had an emphasis on how we interact with customers and provides information, works with hard to reach and disadvantaged groups/individuals, promotes a culture of customer service and works with the wider community, all while continuing to benchmark performance and improve.

The Assessor spent time talking to customers, employees and managers and their report provides detailed feedback with many positive comments such as ‘the Council continues to show continued improvements in all of the services areas reviewed’ and that ‘there remains a very strong customer focused culture within and across the organisation’.

We first achieved the national Customer Service Excellence Standard back in 2011 and have successfully retained it since. From 2014, we have been subject to a number of annual inspections, the latest being in April 2017.

Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Brian Watson said, “This is great news. To continue to be recognised for providing good customer service - despite the cuts we have had to endure - shows we are performing well and put customers at the heart of what we do.

“We have always felt that consulting residents on our services and providing good customer service goes hand in hand and this is something we will continue to do and improve upon.”

The report also highlights that we are considered to be ‘compliance plus’ in three additional elements (hard to reach and disadvantaged focus, staff promote customer service culture and working with the wider community) to the one currently held for consultation and engagement.

Councillor Watson added, “We welcome external assessments as they give you an outside view of how we are actually performing and not how we think we are doing. What we will do now is look at the report in detail and make sure the plans we put into place continue to provide good quality services for our local communities.”

On Thursday 15 June, the first ever National Clean Air Day (NCAD) will see local schools, hospitals, workplaces and communities across UK cities run events, and inspire local residents to act fortheir own health and the health of local children.

The health impact or air pollution, equivalent to 40,000 premature deaths every year in the UK, is completely unnecessary and NCAD is all about giving everyone the tools and inspiration to reduce pollution now.

We are supporting the day raising awareness with our employees through facts and stories as well as highlighted the importance of clean air vi our social media platforms.

Everybody can have a positive impact on air quality and we would like to inspire staff/residents/employees/customers to understand the actions they can take to reduce air pollution, and limit its impact on their health and the health of others.

You can help by sharing a car to work, walk/take public transport to the shops, don't use your log burner until absolutely necessary or simply by switching off your engine whilst stationary.

Thursday 15 June will be a day of practical action, myth-busting and awareness-raising, so we can all breathe cleaner air. NCAD gives every school, hospital, workplace and housing estate free access to cutting-edge advice on avoiding and tackling urban air pollution, approved by health experts and academics.

All the information on how to get involved in NCAD is available from the NCAD website.

Whitwell’s brand new skate park officially opened on Thursday 1 June 2017 with scores of youngsters enjoying the new facility.

Young people equipped with their bikes, scooters and skateboards took to the new park and were also treated to stunts and tricks from Bolsover District Council’s Extreme Wheels Roadshows Demo Riders.

The new Skate Park is concrete based with a variety of ramps and rails for users to test their skills and try out their tricks. Located on Bakestone Moor, it is free for anyone to use and is open on a daily basis from 9am to 8pm.

The skate park has been funded by Bolsover District Council, Viridor Credits, Whitwell Parish Council, Derbyshire County Council and built by Proludic.

Bolsover District and Whitwell Parish Councillor, Tom Munro said, “After months of refurbishment we are really excited to open this brand new facility. We have had young people chomping at the bit to use it ever since we started to refurbish it and from today’s attendance it looks like it will be a huge hit with them.

“We have worked very hard with our partners and local residents and have listened to the experts in planning and designing the new park to get a facility that people can enjoy and keeps them active – and I think we have achieved that.”

Our Strategic Alliance was formed in 2011 and since then it’s enabled us to reduce our costs and pool our expertise but both Councils continue to face significant challenges and we need to step up to these.

In Oct 2015, we appointed a new Chief Executive who works across the two Councils. With drive and ambition we have achieved a lot in that time and made the most of the opportunities arising from these arrangements. We’ve also made the most out of the opportunities that have come from our location and our relationships with key partners across the Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the Sheffield City Region. We’re delivering, but there’s much more to be done.

This is a crucial time for the Strategic Alliance and we need leaders who can excel at moving forward our transformation and growth agenda and bring creativity and innovation to the challenges we are tackling. These leaders need a proven track record, but also a desire to grow and learn. You’ll be working with an ambitious and energetic Chief Executive who will demand results but will invest in your development. We’ve got members committed to change and who want to make sure we innovate to protect our services and continue to deliver.

It’s a time of change and we need two people who can adapt and who have the resilience to deliver. You’ll need political savvy and a high degree of self-awareness but the opportunities will ensure you are part of a leadership team that shapes the future of the two Councils. You’ll need ambition and passion and be able to cope in a fast paced environment. You’ll be offered flexibility to help shape your role and you’ll be at the heart of defining how the Strategic Alliance goes forward.

Dog owners across Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire District are being given the chance to have free wellbeing checks and urged to get their dog microchipped for free as part of a popular mobile pet checking unit which is touring the area in June.

We have joined forces with North East Derbyshire District Council to bring the PDSA Health Check Roadshow to the area from 13-16 June 2017.

The free wellbeing checks – which include weight, eyes, teeth, ears, coat condition and general fitness - are undertaken by an experienced veterinary nurse, who will also be able to provide information on the care of other popular pets. Dog owners who have puppies older than eight-weeks are also encouraged to bring it in for their first wellbeing check.

Our Dog Warden will also be on hand to provide free dog microchipping - something which normally costs around £15 – and is a legal requirement for all dogs.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Murray-Carr, said “We are delighted that the Health Check roadshow will be coming to our part of the country again. They have been very popular in the past and provide not only dog owners with a valuable free service, but also give us the chance to talk to them about any concerns they have and any new initiatives we are bringing in.”

We have been running the roadshows for a number of years now and an average of 200 dogs receive free microchips and 120 receive free pet health checks during the course of the event.

We will also be offering advice about canine behaviour and responsible dog ownership – as well as handing out free poop scoop bags at each of the roadshow events.

North East Derbyshire District Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment, Councillor Michael Gordon said, “Owning a dog is a rewarding experience, but it is also a big responsibility and can often come with hefty bills. So we are urging as many dog owners as possible to visit the PDSA PetCheck vehicle to find out more about their dog’s health and take advantage of a free dog health MOT!”

The PDSA Health Check Roadshow will be touring the Districts as below:

We have agreed to a raft of plans and ideas that will help regenerate our town centres and breathe new life into the District.

The work, which forms part of the Regeneration Frameworks for the District has prioritised one major project in each of the four market towns of Bolsover, Clowne, Shirebrook and South Normanton and three cross cutting projects which benefit the whole of the District.

The following town centre projects become priorities, which are seen as key to future regeneration:

Bolsover – mixed use development on the Sherwood Lodge site

Clowne – new highway route through the town centre, pedestrian and public realm improvements

Shirebrook – remodel the market place, including public realm redesign to create more multi-functional space

South Normanton – redesign and re-establish the market place as a heart of the town.

For the whole district we have prioritised a programme of shop front enhancements, a gateway project for towns and villages improving promotion and signage and to promote the Robin Hood line as an excellent means of sustainable transport that can help support both business and leisure opportunities.

In addition it was agreed to trial a Town Team in South Normanton which will help promote the area and eventually become independent and self sustaining.

Council Leader, Councillor Ann Syrett said, “These projects will have a significant economic impact on each of these town centres. While we are initially proposing to focus on our four market towns, the action plan is adaptable and we will take advantage of any new opportunities where a positive economic impact can be achieved.

“We are now working with our partners to identify funding opportunities to get these schemes off the ground as soon as possible.”

We have previously consulted with local communities and stakeholders on the detailed studies and draft plans for taking the Regeneration Frameworks forward as a catalyst for further investment and regeneration.

Councillor Syrett added, “We must make our District more resilient and attractive so we will also be targeting empty properties, promoting our strong tourist attractions and marketing our key development sites to bring in inward investment.

“What is important though is to make sure these plans do not just sit on a shelf and gather dust. We must make sure we put them into action so we can help regenerate and improve our town centres.”

Guides from Holymoorside are celebrating after successfully sliding the ‘Flume’ 100 times to complete a mile to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and celebrate the Unit’s 100th birthday this year.

Members of the 1st Holymoorside Unit, aged between 10 years and 14 years old raised £139 and were supported by family and friends as they completed the Mile for Macmillan challenge at Go! Active @The Arc leisure facility in Clowne on Thursday 4 May 2017.

The group are one of over 4,000 Girlguiding Midlands units to join forces with Macmillan as part of a new charity partnership to raise £72,000 for people affected by cancer this year.

One girl said that it had been a really fun way to help people who were poorly and needed a Macmillan Nurse. Another said ‘We all had to go down the flume until we had done a total of one hundred times even though we only needed to do it 97 times , but it is our one hundredth birthday so we did three more to celebrate that as well.’

Gill Ball, Leader at the Unit said: “We had great fun supporting Macmillan in this way and getting the local community aware of our activities for such a good cause. All money raised will help fund vital Macmillan services in local communities right across Derbyshire so that no one has to face cancer alone.”

Pippa Lock Partnership Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support says, “I’d like to thank all the girls from the Holymoorside Unit for taking the time to support Macmillan. We hope everyone involved enjoyed Mile for Macmillan and will keep supporting them as they try and raise much needed funds for people affected by cancer throughout 2017.”

Girlguiding is the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women, giving all girls the opportunity to grow in confidence and discover their potential.

Every year Girlguiding Midlands offers a host of exciting opportunities for girls and young women to go on an adventure – from international trips and art extravaganzas to sleepovers in zoos and theme parks and science investigation days.

For more information about how to join Girlguiding– the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK – visit their website. They have leadership and non –leadership opportunities for adults as well as programmes for the girls.

Members of the Bolsover WI will be taking part in the Bolsover Hill Race on Sunday 21 May. They are hoping to enter a team of 12 walkers all wearing a specially made fancy dress costume inspired by the Calendar Girls.

The race involved a series of 1 mile races where people can walk, run or cycle up a one mile course starting at Villas Road and finishing at Castle Street. There are prizes for the fastest male and female in both the running and cycling categores, plus a prize for best fancy dress – with a special children’s race for those who wanted to walk up the Hill with mum and dad.

Sue Coulton, 65 from Bolsover volunteered at the first Bolsover Hill Race last year. Later that year she and members of the WI attended a talk at the Proact Stadium, from the real Calendar Girls. It was this which inspired them to take part in the event this year.

Sue said, “I think listening to the girls and how they came up with the calendar really made us think of what we could do to support a charity. In effect they inspired us to take on the Hill Race, though we are not as brave as them and won’t be taking our kit off. We’re really looking forward to taking part and will be using some appropriately placed Sunflowers on our outfits to mark what the girls did.”

Entry to the Hill Race costs only £10 for adults, with a free place for Under 12s for every paying adult. All profit from the event will go to the NGS Macmillan Unit Appeal, at Chesterfield Royal HospitalSue has a personal reason for wanting to take part, she added, ‘It’s so important to have a new cancer treatment closer to home. I lost my daughter to cancer when she was only 12, and we had to travel every day to Weston Park for treatment. It was really hard, so I know that by having this unit near to us is going to make such a huge difference.”

The running race was sponsored by Great Bear Distribition. If you would like to run, walk or cycle the Bolsover Hill Race, sign up online.

Six properties have now been built on the former Blackwell Hotel site which, in recent years, has been an eyesore for local residents.

The development is the second to be progressed through the B@Home programme, which was procured through EEM Ltd. It’s a multi-million pound investment in new housing for us as we are working in partnership with Robert Woodhead Ltd over a four-year period.

The programme aims to deliver an anticipated 150 high quality, energy efficient homes, which will address local housing needs across the District. 13 properties have been built so far, with another eight on Fir Close in Shirebrook nearing completion and work is starting on a further 49 this year.

Built on the derelict site of the former Blackwell Hotel, the new development boasts five 2 bedroom houses and a 2 bedroom bungalow on the corner of Primrose Hill and Alfreton Road.

Work on the site began early last summer and was completed mid-April. Due to high demand, all of the properties were tenanted and occupied within one week of completion.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor John Ritchie said, “This second stage development of council homes in our district is another step forward to achieving our goal of around 150 homes over four years.

“It’s not just about housing, 9 work experience students from Tibshelf Community School have worked on this Blackwell development.

"These students were studying for the WJEC Level 1 First Award in Construction in The Built Environment and have gained valuable first-hand experience on this site, also with 94% of subcontractor spend being within 40 miles of site, we are proving that we are delivering both social and economic benefits to our district.

“Being able to provide our residents with quality homes is a priority and if we can regenerate a derelict piece of land to improve the overall appearance of the area, then that is a bonus.”

Glenn Slater, Business Development Director at Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “The B@Home partnership aims to create a positive impact on the District, not just by building new homes for local families, but in providing a wide range of work experience, training and job opportunities.

“What makes this development special is Bolsover District Council’s ability to take direct action to rapidly progress a run-down site and create six brand new family homes, which contribute to the local community, while creating an attractive streetscene.”

Rebecca Dermody, Head of Operations for EEM Ltd, said: “We always aim to develop frameworks which help our members achieve the best value, in addition to offering wider community benefits.

“B@Home is one of our flagship projects, which embodies all the values and vision we have for the frameworks we develop. It’s fantastic to see the second site completed on this project, and we look forward to watching the scheme progress further.”

A Shirebrook man who admitted burning waste at his home has been ordered to pay £492 by Magistrates.

Chesterfield Magistrates found David Steers guilty of disposing of controlled waste at his home on Vale Drive, Model Village, Shirebrook and was ordered to pay a total of £492 consisting of costs of £290, fine of £182 and victim surcharge of £20.

In 2014, residents of Shirebrook Model Village had all received a letter advising them not to burn rubbish.

Back on 23 March 2016, our officers together with Derbyshire Constabulary, were undertaking evening patrols to identify illegal burning when they smelt a strong burning smell which they immediately identified as burning plastic.

They attended a fire burning with a significant amount of ash in the rear garden of Mr Steers property. When questioned, Mr Steers stated that he had ignited the fire to get rid of some old kitchen cupboards, bed-frame and a mattress.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Murray-Carr said, “This individual had been warned previously about burning waste in his garden, so he had no excuse.

“We are delighted with the Courts decision and feel that the fine sends a clear message out to people – do not burn rubbish at your home that causes a nuisance or face the consequences!”

Is your business missing out on the huge advantages of broadband due to poor connection speeds?

High speed broadband can help your business expand its customer base, adopt new technologies and increase growth while improving outputs and efficiency.

Join us for breakfast and find out more about how your business can benefit from adopting high speed broadband technologies and, specifically, the options available in your area.

Delivered as part of the Digital Growth Programme, this fully-funded informative breakfast seminar will offer a series of presentations aimed at bringing you fully up-to-date on new technology developments and the support that exists for businesses looking to upgrade and improve their current broadband connectivity.

Delegates will have the opportunity to understand the different connection types available - including fibre, 4G, wireless and satellite - and hear from the leading suppliers in these areas to understand the technologies available, before deciding on the best solution for your business. Find out more by visiting the e-business club website.

The D2N2 Digital Growth Programme is part funded by the 2014 to 2020 European Regional Development Fund.

The first ground has been cut marking the start of a £6m investment in 49 new council properties in Shirebrook and Tibshelf. The Shirebrook development at Hilltop will redevelop 3.5 acres of land and to provide 37 properties ranging from 1 bed flats to 3 bedroom houses.

The Tibshelf development on Derwent Drive will see 12 new 2 bedroom houses built on 1.2 acres of land which is the site of a former garage site. Both developments form part of our B@Home Programme where we are working in partnership with Robert Woodhead Limited, the Homes and Communities Agency and EEM Ltd.

Leader, Councillor Ann Syrett said: “We are delighted with our completed B@Home properties so far in Creswell, and the homes in Blackwell are on the verge of completion. “We have set the bar high with these quality properties so far and I’m sure these new developments in Shirebrook and Tibshelf will meet our high expectations and have a positive impact on our communities.

“We are investing in our district and are committed to rebuilding our housing stock and improving life in our communities.”

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor John Ritchie commented: “The B@Home partnership is proving to be extremely valuable to the district by providing not just high quality homes, but employment and apprentice opportunities as well.

“Local workers, contractors, suppliers and youngsters looking for a step up the ladder are all benefitting from our B@Home partnership with Robert Woodhead Limited.”

David Pearson, Project Manager for Robert Woodhead Limited, said: “The B@Home partnership has already proven to be successful, not just in the homes we have built, but in the impact we have had on the local community.

“So far we have already been able to offer 12 work experience opportunities to local students, and engaged with more than 1,200 young people to inspire them towards a career in construction. We will continue to work closely with the nearby schools and colleges to provide a range of opportunities, which we hope will inspire a generation of future construction workers.”

Pete Smith, Chief Executive of EEM Ltd, said: “It is our belief at EEM that we are not just procuring services for our members, but forging partnerships to deliver excellent results with truly measurable community impacts. The B@Home Partnership is a flagship programme for us, highlighting that construction is not just about the bricks and mortar, but the effect you can have on the surrounding community.”

The ground work has commenced and the project is expected to be completed by 2018.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking people across Bolsover District to comment on its draft proposals for new council ward boundaries.

An 10-week public consultation on the recommendations begins today and will end on 19 June 2017. The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new council wards, ward boundaries and ward names across Bolsover.

The Commission’s draft recommendations propose that Bolsover should have 37 councillors in the future, the same as the current arrangements. The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent four three-councillor wards, twelve two-councillor wards and one one-councillor ward across the district.

The full recommendations for Bolsover and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website. Hard copies of the Commission’s report and maps will also be available to view at council buildings.

At the same time, the Commission is consulting on a new pattern of wards for neighbouring North East Derbyshire District Council.

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of wards across Bolsover and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations. Over the next ten weeks, we are asking local people to tell us if they agree with the proposals or if not, how they can be improved.

“Our review aims to deliver electoral equality for local voters. This means that each councillor represents a similar number of people so that everyone’s vote in council elections is worth roughly the same regardless of where you live.

“We also want to ensure that our proposals reflect the interests and identities of local communities across Bolsover and that the pattern of wards can help the council deliver effective local government to local people.

“We will consider all the submissions we receive whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the whole district or just part of it.”

The Commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible to develop final recommendations for Bolsover. If you would like to make a submission to the Commission, please write or email us by 19 June 2017: The Review Officer (Bolsover) Local Government Boundary Commission for England 14th floor, Millbank Tower London SW1P 4QP, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., follow us on Twitter @LGBCE or have your say directly through the Commission’s consultation portal.

Two young apprentices who started life as trainees have now been given employment by the Council after successfully completing the Trainee and Apprenticeship Scheme.

William Bend and Donnovan Canning both started their traineeships in September 2015 in our leisure department and then went on to complete their Level 2 apprenticeship in Exercise and Fitness.

They are now both employed as Leisure attendants and are working at the newly opened Go! Active @The Arc leisure facility.

The Trainee and Apprenticeship Scheme, supported by Babington Group, paves the way for young people to gain full-time employment, future study or training. The 20-week scheme, aimed at 16-19 year olds who live in Bolsover District, will help improve their skills and increase their chance of gaining an apprenticeship by achieving qualifications in functional skills, Maths and English, whilst also giving them experience in a working environment. Financial support to assist young people with their expenses may be available.

We provide traineeship opportunities in a variety of roles including leisure, ICT, business admin, customer services, grounds maintenance and refuse. 29 trainees have gained work experience and received employability training and support with the Council since 2014; with 14 securing a 12-month apprenticeship and 64% of them progressing into employment or further training to date. So far, 11 apprentices have gained an NVQ level 2 in either Customer Service/Horticulture/sustainable waste Management or Exercise and Fitness. .

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Karl Reid said, “We understand the difficulties young people go through to secure a job so we are giving them a chance to improve their skills and knowledge, by offering them our Trainee and Apprenticeship scheme.

“I would ask any young person to give it a go, as this is a fantastic step towards rewarding employment.”

William Bend said, “I started at the Council as a trainee and this gave me the confidence to apply for an apprenticeship and I’ve gained my NVQ and now I’m an employee, I can’t believe it! The staff are really supportive, I’m earning a wage and doing a job that I really enjoy.”

Donovan Canning said, “I’m loving it here. I particularly enjoy delivering the low impact circuit classes and teen/family fit classes. The best bit about my job is meeting new people.”If you would like to more information regarding traineeships or apprenticeship opportunities at either Bolsover or North East Derbyshire District Council please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.on 01246 242412 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.on 01246 217592.

We are on the lookout for residents who want to help shape the future of council services in Bolsover District and want to improve the lives of others in the local area?

We are asking for volunteers to be part of our Citizens’ Panel and Equality Panel, which meets 3 or 4 times a year and to complete a maximum of 6 questionnaires a year about council services and the local area.

If you live in Bolsover District and would like to attend Equality Panel meetings or become a Citizens’ Panel member, or both – please contact us on the numbers below or visit Ask Derbyshire and click on “Bolsover Panels Recruitment” to send us your details. Some travel costs will be paid to those who attend the Equality Panel.

For further information about the Citizens’ Panel please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.on 01246 242300 and for more information about the Equality Panel, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.on 01246 242407.

We have obtained a court order to board up a Council house in South Normanton after local residents were subjected to drug related activity and anti social behaviour.

The Closure Order, for Coronation Drive, South Normanton, was granted on 23 March 2017 from Northern Derbyshire Magistrates Court after the tenant and visitors subjected local residents and neighbours to continuous anti social behaviour (ASB) and distress.

Together with the Police, we were made aware of a number of incidents of anti social behaviour, alleged crime and drug taking from the property which affected local people’s quality of life. Numerous approaches were made by us to try and deal with the issues but the tenant in the property continued with their actions.

The Court granted the order as they believed that a person had engaged (and if the order wasn’t made) and was likely to engage, in disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour at the property and the order was necessary to prevent the nuisance or disorder from continuing.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Councillor John Ritchie said, “This was a huge problem which was causing distress to local residents – distress that no-one should have to put up with. We knew we had to act as fast as we could to stamp out the problem so we had no hesitation in using the Closure Power legislation.

“It’s never nice for anyone to have to put up with anti social behaviour day and night and local residents of this area have had to put up with more than their fair share. But, they can now sleep easy at night and enjoy their homes, knowing that the problem has been sorted. This should also serve as a warning to others that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour and we will use whatever powers and action are appropriate and available to us.”

The Closure Order is for three-months and we can also apply for an extension of another three-months after this time. We will seek possession of the property during the three-months to ensure that the perpetrators are not able to continue with their behaviour in the future. It is an imprisonable offence if any person tries to enter the property.

We have issued Morrisons with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) in an effort to try and clean up the Sherwood Lodge site in Bolsover.

Since the company purchased the site back in 2014, it has fallen into disrepair and has been the subject of repeated acts of vandalism and fires.

A CPN warning was issued to the landowner (Optimisation Developments Ltd) on 7 February 2017 and since that date the company have not acknowledged the contents of the warning notice or tried to resolve the situation.

Council officers along with partners from the Police and Fire Service undertook an inspection of the site and none of the conditions documented within the warning have been met, apart from the erection of signs advising security is on site.

As a result, the Community Protection Notice has been issued to the landowner today, which gives them 28 days to complete the work detailed on the notice. If they fail to do this they will face prosecution by the Council’s Legal Department and a potential fine of up to £20,000.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Councillor John Ritchie said, “We have tried and tried to speak to the company to get them to resolve the situation, but they do not return our calls or reply to our emails and letters, so we had no hesitation in using our legal powers and issuing this notice.

“The site is an eyesore and dangerous. We’ve had vandalism and fires and it is now a magnet in attracting anti social behaviour, so something has to be done – and soon! We want the company to make it safe immediately and then put plans forward for it to be developed for the benefit of the town as soon as possible.”

A household telephone shopping survey will commence on Monday 27 March undertaken by NEMS Market Research. NEMS will be telephoning residents of Barlborough and Clowne to ask questions them about their shopping and leisure habits.

NEMS only require 70 responses so the survey calls will end as soon as those responses are received.

The purpose of the survey is to inform a Retail and Town Centres Study being undertaken by consultants, Nexus, on behalf of Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Council's. The Study will form an important part of the evidence base for each Council’s Local Plan.

If you require further advice or need to pass calls on please direct them to a member of the Planning Policy Team on 01246 242294/242290/242286/242292).

A Shirebrook woman who continually burnt waste at her home has been ordered to pay £210 by Magistrates.

Chesterfield Magistrates found Gemma Cooper guilty of disposing of controlled waste at her home on Field Drive, Model Village, Shirebrook and was ordered to pay a total of £210 consisting of costs of £150, fine of £40 and victim surcharge of £20.

In 2014, residents of Shirebrook Model Village had all received a letter advising them not to burn rubbish and in addition a specific letter was sent to Mrs Cooper as she continued to burn rubbish at her property.

Back on 1 March 2016, council officers and Derbyshire Constabulary where undertaking evening patrols to identify illegal burning and attended a large fire (covering approximately 3 square metres) burning in the rear garden of Mrs Cooper’s property.

The contents included household waste such as waste bin items, waste food, paper, cardboard, tins, plastics, wood and plastic bin liners and the products of the combustion led to the formation of noxious fumes close to a built up area.

On 21 March 2016, Mrs Cooper attended a PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence) interview at the Council Offices and admitted to burning waste on her land on 1 March 2016 and that she had allowed others to burn waste on her land.

Council officers consequently obtained information from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service that a fire engine and crew had been called out on eight occasions over a four-month period to reported burning incidents at Mrs Cooper’s property.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Murray-Carr said, “This woman had been given plenty of warning, but continued to break the law and cause problems for her neighbours by setting fires.

“I am regularly contacted by members of the public who complain that we do not do enough to tackle the problems such as fires and burning waste in back gardens and this case demonstrates our commitment as a Council in dealing effectively with these type of problems together with other agencies.”

As Leader of Bolsover District Council I write to respond to the consultation. Whilst the District Council recognises that HS2 has the potential to bring economic benefits to northern Derbyshire and the East Midlands we remain concerned at the significant impact on our local communities. We are also concerned that there will be significant impact on our local economy and businesses.

During the period of consultation we have received representations directly from residents and businesses. On each occasion we have advised that these representations also be made directly to HS2. Additionally we have aimed to reflect the views and concerns expressed in these representations in our letter as follows.

It is clear that changes to the original 2013 consultation proposals have created significant concerns directly as a consequence of alterations to the main route and also as a consequence of a proposed spur line serving Sheffield and Chesterfield. During the recent period of consultation we received a number of letters regarding the proposals particularly the impact of the spur line in the Blackwell, Newton and Tibshelf areas. The District Council is concerned that HS2 will place significant blight on these areas which will impact negatively on property prices and create a lasting negative legacy. There were consistent themes in the representations that were made to the District Council regarding the spur line particularly around the impact on the countryside and the negative effect on house prices. Concerns were expressed that the compensation schemes do not reflect the negative impact that HS2 will have on property values. Representations were also made that the construction works and proposals to cross the M1 motorway will bring significant congestion to the area creating problems for businesses and residents. Concerns were also expressed that additional traffic will contribute to areas of poor air quality.

On this basis we urge that HS2 fully consider alternatives to the proposed spur line and look at the options available to use an alternative from the Toton Station that would still serve the South Yorkshire area. We believe this would present a more cost effective solution and significantly lessen the impact. If it is intended to continue with the proposals for the spur line then we would urge HS2 to strongly consider what mitigation can be put in place to negate the impact on our local environment and our communities.

The District Council is concerned that the proposed new route will have a serious impact on the key heritage assets within our area particularly Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle. These sites are key elements of our visitor economy and we are concerned that the proposals and the impact on our transport network, will significantly restrict the benefits these two internationally renowned sites bring. We are also concerned that longer term the environmental impact of HS2 will blight our area and negatively affect the appeal of our iconic heritage assets.

We are concerned that the spur line proposals will have a negative impact on the electrification of the Midland Main Line. We view the electrification as an integral part of the economic regeneration of northern Derbyshire. We would not wish to see HS2 negatively impact on the Midland Mainline proposals and we would seek assurances that despite rising costs HS2 will not restrict the Government’s ability to deliver other projects which are integral to our areas economic success.

Whilst we understand the HS2 proposals require safeguarding Bolsover District Council is currently in the process of developing its Local Plan. The timing of HS2 Phase 2b consultation has not assisted with this process as the route impacts negatively on sites within our district. As a consequence of this we have had ongoing dialogue with HS2 and we anticipate this dialogue will continue, because uncertainty does not assist us with strategic spatial planning.

In addition to the impact of HS2 proposals on our Local Plan process there are areas where the new route has direct impact on local businesses. An initial assessment of this impact evidences that approximately £350,000 worth of business rates could be lost as a result of the route should businesses choose to either end their operations or relocate outside of our district. It is clear that Government places strong emphasis on Councils growing their local economy with changes to Local Government financing likely to place reliance on the growth of business rates. It is, therefore, clear that HS2 proposals will have a significant negative impact on the Local Authority’s finances through loss of business rates. On this basis we urge that HS2 continue dialogue with the District Council so that the negative impacts on our businesses can be mitigated properly. Alternatively a change to the route would prevent a number of large employment sites from being directly affected.

We are also concerned that the direct impact and accumulated impact on the transport network during construction will not assist with the growth of our local economy. We urge HS2 to give full and proper consideration to how best to mitigate this impact on our local businesses.

If the proposals do go ahead we strongly urge HS2 to ensure that the Infrastructure Maintenance Depot at Staveley contains within it a satellite college linked to the High Speed Rail College at Doncaster. We want to ensure that this facility provides opportunities and employment for local people ensuring that they can benefit directly from HS2. We feel that without this local satellite college it is unlikely that the benefits of the Infrastructure Maintenance Depot for local people will fully materialise.

We note with concern that for Phase 1 (London/West Midlands) the Government announced a £30m funding package for a Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF). These funds will be available to residents and communities on the line of the route for investment in public projects, such as the refurbishment of local community centres, nature conservation and measures to support local economies and employment. We are concerned to date no details of this fund are yet available for Phase 2b of the project which includes the route through Derbyshire. We strongly urge that HS2 provide such a fund for our area and provide clear and simple mechanisms for our local communities and businesses to access it. We view this as a matter that HS2 needs to address quickly so communities and businesses can properly offset the impact.

In respect of the compensation available for householders and businesses affected we urge HS2 to ensure that residents and businesses are not unduly disadvantaged. We also urge that HS2 ensures consistency in the compensation given to residents so that those in rural areas have access to compensation which is consistent with those affected in urban areas.

In conclusion the District Council recognises the potential economic benefits that could result from the HS2 proposals. However we have very serious concerns regarding the impact on our local communities and businesses. We also have significant concerns about the impact of HS2 on our local environment and heritage assets that are an integral part of the uniqueness of Bolsover District. On this basis we would urge that HS2 give proper consideration to all the points within our letter and continue the dialogue with our communities, businesses and the Council to ensure alternative options are fully considered and the impact is properly managed and mitigated, should HS2 go ahead.

This week is National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 March), run by the National Apprenticeship Service and celebrates the positive impact which apprenticeships can have on developing individuals, businesses and the wider economy and opening up career dreams for millions of people every year.

One particular area which is seeing a surge of development in the UK is the construction industry, with the high demand for more housing being a key focus for many city and district councils. We are one such council, and we are building and regenerating our area.

The B@Home partnership was launched last year between ourselves and Robert Woodhead Ltd through the Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) Ltd’s New Build Developer Framework to build more than 100 energy efficient homes in the local area in the next four years.

And the initiative is very much about developing partnerships and delivering growth – not just to people needing to rent council properties, but also to construction apprentices who are gaining new skills, learning how to manage real-life situations on site and working together with all contractors on the B@Home development sites.

Vision Apprentices, the apprenticeship arm of West Nottinghamshire College, is currently watching three of its apprentices develop carrying out maintenance work for us, and making the most of the opportunity to learn additional skills on the new build properties on the Fir Close development in Shirebrook, an area of derelict land, which will soon contain six two-bedroom houses and two one-bedroomed flats.

Josh Gozzard, electrical apprentice, Tyler Griffiths, joinery apprentice and Jake Rawson, plumbing apprentice are all employed by us and already seeing the personal and career benefits of working on a live building site.

Eighteen-year-old Jake, who lives in Alfreton, joined us two years ago as a plumbing apprentice. He attends West Nottinghamshire College’s construction campus one day a week.

He said:

“It’s great to be working on this kind of project. I’m learning lots of things I’ve never done before and it’s boosting my skills. On site you experience new levels of responsibility. I get my theory and some practical studies at college and then get to put it into real practice on site.

“As an apprentice you get great hands-on experience and a head start into a career. I would really like to apply for a full-time job here at the council after qualifying.”

All three apprentices are ready to get stuck in to the Fir Close development, after all having applied their trades at another B@Home site in Blackwell recently. Next week they will all work on ‘first fixing’ the new builds.

“Working with apprentices isn’t a new concept for Woodhead. Part of the reason we won the tender was based on the employment opportunities we can offer local apprentices, not just because we can deliver the building works.

“We’re proud to support our local communities and often work with local schools and colleges to provide work experience opportunities, and always aim to use local suppliers and contractors for materials and services.”

Josh Gozzard, 18, from Chesterfield said:

“I’m really looking forward to doing all the first and second fixing for an entire house. It’s quite daunting to see a real-life site but also very exciting. I’m finding it interesting working with others on site. I’ll admit, I feel a lot slower than those who’ve worked in their trades for years, but I’ll get there! To still be able to study and be in paid work is amazing.”

Cabinet member for housing, Councillor John Ritchie, said:

“It’s a privilege to be part of this project with Woodheads and West Notts – long may it continue. Working with Woodheads is very reassuring as they have a good social conscience for working in partnerships and that’s been reflected in the award they won last week – the Building Communities award.

“As a local authority we have a genuine and heartfelt commitment to take on apprentices and we have already agreed the key stages of construction where we know the apprentices are scheduled to come onto site. Tyler will be soon be involved in the installation of first floor joists, roof construction then internal studded walls and staircases.

“This new build experience isn’t something we can normally offer apprentices as they’re usually involved in maintaining our council houses. This is a fantastic chance to test their skills in brand new homes.

“Fir Close is due to be complete in August and then we can offer them further work on further new build sites across the District. They’re doing brilliantly so far, so we have every confidence in their flourishing skills.”

Tyler Griffiths, 17, from Glapwell agrees that his skills are improving. He said:

“Life working on site is definitely different. I learn so much about it at college but that’s under test conditions – this is the real thing. Working alongside other people is great and is improving my communication skills.”

We are working with North East Derbyshire District Council to introduce a Local Authority Mortgage Scheme aimed at helping first-time buyers onto the housing ladder.

As part of the scheme we propose to help people who can afford mortgage repayments, but not a large deposit, to secure a house by providing an indemnity for up to 20% of the total value of the mortgage with the lender. Our indemnity would only be called upon if the borrower failed to make the repayments or breached the terms of the mortgage and the property was sold at a loss. The scheme has been launched and will allow first-time buyers to get a 95% mortgage on similar terms as a 75% mortgage but without the large deposit normally required.

A joint statement from Councillor John Ritchie (Cabinet Member for Housing at BDC) and Councillor Bette Hill (Cabinet member for Housing Strategy at NEDDC) , said: “This is a great scheme which helps first time buyers in Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire District get on the property ladder and, at the same time, contribute to the local economy. We are delighted to join forces with one of our local lenders to launch this scheme.” “If you’re looking to establish your first home then this may be something that will help you do just that, with aspiring home owners able to access up to 95% loans. I would encourage anyone interested to visit their local Leek United Building Society branch and ask about LAMS mortgages.” Clare Beardmore at Leek United, said: “LAMS has made the opportunity for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder so much more realistic. We are delighted to be extending the scheme into Derbyshire in a partnership with Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire Councils, to assist homebuyers in our ‘heartland’.”

Under LAMS, almost 70 local authorities have now worked with mortgage lenders and supported 3,900 families and individuals to buy their first home during a time when it was virtually impossible to otherwise obtain a mortgage with a relatively small deposit. Capita Asset Services works closely with local authorities and supports them in launching their scheme. Hayley Sullivan, Associate Director at Capita Asset Services, said: “This scheme has been operating successfully in many parts of the UK for over five years and is still helping first time buyers to buy their first home with a lower deposit than usually needed. This innovative scheme has already helped over 3900 people or couples to buy their first home, is stimulating the local housing market and benefitting the wider economy.” Only first-time buyers with a minimum five per cent deposit who can meet the repayments on a 95 per cent mortgage will be eligible for the council scheme. The potential buyer will also need to meet the normal criteria of the mortgage lender.

To find out more about LAMS, customers can call into their local Leek United branch or call the Society at the Head Office on 01538 380047 or at the Derby Branch on 01332 344708 or visit the website. Date issued: 17 February 2017

Notes to Editors: These products are offered in Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire areas are designed to assist first time buyers to purchase their home with as little as 5% deposit. Applicants (or at least one of the applicants) must be first time buyers with a deposit of at least 5%. The applicant must purchase property within the postcode region of North East Derbyshire or Bolsover District Councils. There is a maximum loan size of £175,000 in North East Derbyshire District Council area and £150,000 in Bolsover District Council area.

Councils plan to help first-time buyers on housing ladder

We are working with North East Derbyshire District Council to introduce a Local Authority Mortgage Scheme aimed at helping first-time buyers onto the housing ladder.

As part of the scheme we propose to help people who can afford mortgage repayments, but not a large deposit, to secure a house by providing an indemnity for up to 20% of the total value of the mortgage with the lender.

Our indemnity would only be called upon if the borrower failed to make the repayments or breached the terms of the mortgage and the property was sold at a loss.

The scheme has been launched and will allow first-time buyers to get a 95% mortgage on similar terms as a 75% mortgage but without the large deposit normally required.

A joint statement from Councillor John Ritchie (Cabinet Member for Housing at BDC) and Councillor Bette Hill (Cabinet member for Housing Strategy at NEDDC) , said: “This is a great scheme which helps first time buyers in Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire District get on the property ladder and, at the same time, contribute to the local economy. We are delighted to join forces with one of our local lenders to launch this scheme.”

“If you’re looking to establish your first home then this may be something that will help you do just that, with aspiring home owners able to access up to 95% loans. I would encourage anyone interested to visit their local Leek United Building Society branch and ask about LAMS mortgages.”

Clare Beardmore at Leek United, said: “LAMS has made the opportunity for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder so much more realistic. We are delighted to be extending the scheme into Derbyshire in a partnership with Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire Councils, to assist homebuyers in our ‘heartland’.”

Under LAMS, almost 70 local authorities have now worked with mortgage lenders and supported 3,900 families and individuals to buy their first home during a time when it was virtually impossible to otherwise obtain a mortgage with a relatively small deposit.

Capita Asset Services works closely with local authorities and supports them in launching their scheme.

Hayley Sullivan, Associate Director at Capita Asset Services, said: “This scheme has been operating successfully in many parts of the UK for over five years and is still helping first time buyers to buy their first home with a lower deposit than usually needed. This innovative scheme has already helped over 3900 people or couples to buy their first home, is stimulating the local housing market and benefitting the wider economy.”

Only first-time buyers with a minimum five per cent deposit who can meet the repayments on a 95 per cent mortgage will be eligible for the council scheme. The potential buyer will also need to meet the normal criteria of the mortgage lender.

To find out more about LAMS, click the link here orcustomers can call into their local Leek United branch or call the Society at the Head Office on 01538 380047 or at the Derby Branch on 01332 344708 or visit the website.

Date issued: 17 February 2017

Notes to Editors:These products are offered in Bolsover District and North East Derbyshire areas are designed to assist first time buyers to purchase their home with as little as 5% deposit.

Applicants (or at least one of the applicants) must be first time buyers with a deposit of at least 5%. The applicant must purchase property within the postcode region of North East Derbyshire or Bolsover District Councils. There is a maximum loan size of £175,000 in North East Derbyshire District Council area and £150,000 in Bolsover District Council area.

Dan Swaine, Deputy Returning Officer will be holding briefing sessions for potential Candidates and Elections Agents for the Derbyshire County Council Elections which are being held on Thursday 4 May 2017.

The sessions are open to both potential Candidates and Elections Agents covering the district areas of Bolsover and North East Derbyshire.

The briefing sessions will provide valuable information about the election process including the timetable, how to submit nominations, election agents, absent voting, polling day, the verification and count, election literature, election expenses and any other details.

The briefing sessions will take place on the following dates/times:

Saturday 18 March 2017 commencing at 10:00am at Bolsover District Council, The Arc, High Street, Clowne, Chesterfield, S43 4JY

Monday 20 March 2017 commencing at 6:00pm at North East Derbyshire District Council, District Council Offices, 2013 Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG

Thursday 23 March 2017 commencing at 6:00pm at Bolsover District Council, The Arc, High Street, Clowne, Chesterfield, S43 4JY

For more details or to confirm your attendance on one of the above dates, please contact Donna Hopkinson – Elections Manager on 01246 217058 or by email:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Go! Active pool due to open

We are pleased to announce that our Go! Active facility will be fully open from Monday 13 February 2017.

The pool area, flume, wet side changing facilities and thermal suite have all been fully completed and will all be available for public use from 12 noon on the above date. Please note that a revised timetable will be in operation due to the half-term holidays and this will be available later today on the Go! Active website.

If you have booked onto swimming lessons then we will send you an email via the CoursePro system to re-arrange your new starting date. Anyone who wishes to book classes within the pool can do so on our Go! Active App or through our website 7 days in advance of the class.

If you have signed up to a membership, then this has been extended to cover the period the full facilities are not available to you and will officially start from Monday 13 February 2017.

The rest of our facilities - 100+ station state-of-the-art gym, two group exercise studios, the group cycling studio, soft play kingdom, four badminton court sports hall and Go! Fuel cafe – are open as normal. Please note normal charges apply to these areas.

We apologise for any inconvenience the delay in opening the pool area may have caused and hope that you will enjoy using the full range of facilities available to you.

Portraits of Tibshelf arts project celebration

A community based project, Portraits of Tibshelf, funded by us through our Planning Policy for public art, which commenced early 2016 in collaboration with Mik Godley, a leading iPad artist, Composer, Jonathan Bates and the Black Dyke Band will celebrate its finale on 18th March 2017.

The public art is linked to a new Keep Moat development at Mansfield Road Tibshelf and the project celebrates the unique history of the Tibshelf area with the help of Tibshelf Infant and Nursery schools, Tibshelf Junior School and Tibshelf Community School.

The project has involved Mik, an art lecturer at Chesterfield college who has been creating amazing art on the iPad since 2010, and has gone on to produce a remarkable catalogue of stunning works from landscapes to personal portraits.

Mik Godley said, "As an artist I have always looked to be able to express my work in different ways - but the arrival of the iPad opened up new and exciting avenues to do just that.

I was initially given one and soon got hooked on the creative arts programmes. As the iPads developed, so did the sophistication of the software, and I was able to explore the different ways it could be used."

Music for Mik's commission, composed by Jonathan Bates, a renowned young composer, will be performed by Black Dyke Band converted to a time lapse film of his unique art.

It will develop on a multi-media screen before the audience at the finale premiere along with the help of the children from a number of local schools who will accompany the film with a percussion feature led by Simone Rebello, Director of Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.

A further film led by Martyn Harris of Absolute Video entitled 'A Tibshelf Tale' with music composed by Philip Sparke, one of the leading brass band composers in the world, will also be performed by Black Dyke at the event.

Matt Black, ex Derbyshire Poet Laureate, is writing the narration in poetry and BBC Radio 2 presenter Frank Renton who will be the Compère and narrator for the film at the concert.

The evening of film and music will commence at 7pm on Saturday 18th March at Tibshelf Community School.

Part opening of Go! Active

Despite significant efforts to be fully operational the pool area will not be available for general use. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but we still have a wide range of activities planned.

The brand new 100+ station state-of-the-art gym, the two group exercise studios, the group cycling studio and soft play kingdom will open as planned for people to look around and take part in the activities/taster sessions, along with the wide range of activities planned in the sports hall.

We will still be offering tours of the facility, including the ability to view the pool area from the gym, to give you a taste of what is to come. A full timetable of all activities will be available on the day.

If you have signed up to a membership this will be extended to cover the period the full facilities are not available to you.

If you have booked onto swimming lessons then we will contact you to rearrange a new starting date. If you have booked onto exercise classes in the pool we will carry your booking forward for the week we do open and apologise for any inconvenience caused

We will announce when the pool area of the facility will be opened in due course and this will be available on social media, our website and through the local media.

Coalite redevelopment progressing well

Work on a multi-million pound regeneration project to transform the former Coalite site into a thriving business and residential area is progressing well.

The clean-up has been made possible due to grant funding of £2m from Derbyshire County Council and £5.8 m from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Work started on the site – which has lain derelict since 2004 – in November last year and has seen all the buildings, tanks and pipelines demolished. The below ground works have also started which involves excavating the soils and waste and then sorting and separating it so local bugs living in the soil are encouraged to naturally break down the pollutants.

The Environment Agency, Bolsover Land Ltd and the Council’s want to reassure local residents that all the work is being carried out under strict regulation and environmental permits to minimise, mitigate and manage any risks and ensure appropriate contingency measures are in place on site, after strong odours have been detected over the past couple of weeks.

Council Leader, Councillor Ann Syrett said, “At last we are being able to improve this site you can see the changes on site every day as you drive past and it is remarkable to see what has been achieved in such a short period of time. However regenerating sites such as this mean that odours will be released into the atmosphere. These will be stronger at the start of the project as the ground is disturbed but should improve as work progresses.

“But we want to reassure our communities that we’re working with the Environment Agency and Bolsover Land Ltd to minimise these smells and have controls in place and are regularly monitoring the situation.”

The type of chemicals found on the site are extremely odorous which means that they can be detected in the air at extremely low concentrations. This means that even when they do not cause a risk to health, the odour from the chemicals still needs to be managed effectively as part of the redevelopment works. As part of this process, an odour assessment and an odour management plan were produced by the site operator prior to the works being started and the detection of an odour does not automatically indicate that there is a risk to the wider public via airborne contamination.

North East Derbyshire District Council Leader, Councillor Graham Baxter MBE said, “The remediation of the former Coalite site offers a tremendous opportunity to address this outstanding legacy of the District’s coal mining heritage and bring forward an exciting new development opportunity that will lead to hundreds of new jobs and houses in the local area.”

Once redeveloped the site will form a mix of business (potential to create up to 1,500 jobs) and residential (planning permission for up to 660 properties) with including a Local Centre, an area safeguarded for a school, a Neighbourhood Equipped Areas of Play (NEAP), a Local Equipped Area of Play (LEAP), a Riverside Park, a Local Habitat Area, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, footpaths, walkways, cycle paths and landscaping.

Nigel Lax, Development Director for Bolsover Land Limited said, “After four years of planning and working closely with the councils, D2N2 LEP and the Environment Agency, the works to clean up the site marks a key milestone to create hundreds of new jobs and homes.

“To ensure everyone is kept informed we’ve established a community liaison group of local residents, councillors and the Environment Agency. We have also set up a new website and newsletters are being distributed to over 12,000 properties in the local area.

“We’re sorry that there have been reports of increased odour levels and we are currently deploying odour suppressing techniques to reduce odour levels. We will also continue to monitor things closely with the Environment Agency to ensure there is no risk to the public. We are anticipating the odour levels will begin to decrease as we progress with the site’s clean-up.”

The site operator DSM Demolition Ltd has set up a 24/7 telephone number (07774 941 087) for the public to report any incidents or complaints about the site or the remediation works.

The Environment Agency have a 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 which residents can also call. For more information please see the latest newsletter here.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day is a national day of commemoration to remember those who suffered during The Holocaust. The day has evolved to remember other genocides including, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

Each year Holocaust Memorial Day is observed on the 27th January. The date marks the liberation of the largest Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

Every year a different theme is chosen. This year’s theme is "How can life go on? The focus is on the trauma suffered by those affected by genocide, the coming to terms of the past and moving forward. A full copy of the theme can be found here

For more information visit the Holocaust Memorial Day trust website here.

Raising awareness of online scams from non-existent charities

We are teaming up with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) to raise awareness of a scam which sees people being conned out of money for non-existent charities.

Fraudsters are believed to be using social media sites to encourage users to donate money to help to support animal welfare charities overseas that do not exist.

The NFIB has discovered that the criminal groups are often based in Spain or Cyprus and are using social media to target donors from the UK.

The money is then laundered from the UK to overseas and rather than be used to tackle animal cruelty it is simply used to support a criminal lifestyle in the sun. They will canvass for contributions through their existing social networks which will expand over time, attracting more donors.

Sometimes the article or post on social media may indicate the payments are for charitable organisation or a “worthy cause”. Sadly not in all instances are these genuine, and if any doubt please undertake your own due diligence.

Other signs to look for include:

Genuine charities are registered with the Charity Commission and print their registration details on all documentation, collection bags, envelopes, electronic communications etc. Check these details exist and also contact the Charity Commission to confirm they are authentic. You can call them on their helpline 0845 300 0218 or by visiting charity-commission.gov.uk, where they have an online charity register.

If the collection is for a charity you know is genuine, check the collection is authorised by asking the charity directly, using contact details from the phone book or a website that you know is genuine.

Watch out for poor grammar and spelling in emails and other documents, including collection envelopes.

Send your donation to the charity directly. This may mean going to a little more trouble, but at least you can be sure your donation will get to where it’s intended.

Coalite Remediation Works Update

Work to decontaminate the former Coalite site is now well underway with good progress being made with most of the site now cleared of all buildings. Work commenced in November 2016 to prepare the site for the remediation works and to demolish the remaining structures. During this time, contractor has also been in the process of submitting information to obtain their environmental permit from the Environment Agency to allow them to commence the full remediation works. We have been involved in this consultation process in conjunction with Public Health England to ensure that all appropriate controls are put in place for this unique site.

Empty properties set to be transformed

Three properties in Carr Vale near Bolsover are set to be bought back into use thanks to a partnership between the landlord, Bolsover District Council and Action Housing.

The properties, which are located on Main Street, have been empty for over a year, but with the agreement of the landlord, they have been passed to Action Housing on a 14 year lease that will see them transformed into 6 affordable dwellings.

The £120,000 refurbishment will see 6 x1-bedroom flats become available for the local housing market, which will meet a growing need for this type of property in the village.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor John Ritchie said, “These properties have been empty for some time and local people are crying out for affordable housing in this area.

“We have worked with Action Housing before and the quality of finish they provide will transform these houses. So it is a win-win for us – we remove an empty building and replace it with good quality, affordable housing for our residents.”

The partnership arrangement with Action Housing helps to bring empty properties back into use, gives local people the housing they need and provides the landlord with a guaranteed income without the hassle of management costs and void time.

Dave Palmer, Head of Development for Action Housing commented, “This is a great success both for Action Housing and for the local residents of Carr Vale. We are turning empty properties into much needed affordable accommodation which is exactly what the area needs. We are very excited about working closely with Bolsover District Council on similar developments in the future”.

If you own an empty property or know of an empty property in your area please contact our Empty Property officer on 07970376942 to discuss if it can be bought back into use.

Empty properties set to be transformed

Three properties in Carr Vale near Bolsover are set to be bought back into use thanks to a partnership between the landlord, Bolsover District Council and Action Housing.

The properties, which are located on Main Street, have been empty for over a year, but with the agreement of the landlord, they have been passed to Action Housing on a 14 year lease that will see them transformed into 6 affordable dwellings.

The £120,000 refurbishment will see 6 x1-bedroom flats become available for the local housing market, which will meet a growing need for this type of property in the village.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor John Ritchie said, “These properties have been empty for some time and local people are crying out for affordable housing in this area.

“We have worked with Action Housing before and the quality of finish they provide will transform these houses. So it is a win-win for us – we remove an empty building and replace it with good quality, affordable housing for our residents.”

The partnership arrangement with Action Housing helps to bring empty properties back into use, gives local people the housing they need and provides the landlord with a guaranteed income without the hassle of management costs and void time.

Dave Palmer, Head of Development for Action Housing commented, “This is a great success both for Action Housing and for the local residents of Carr Vale. We are turning empty properties into much needed affordable accommodation which is exactly what the area needs. We are very excited about working closely with Bolsover District Council on similar developments in the future”.

If you own an empty property or know of an empty property in your area please contact our Empty Property officer on 07970376942 to discuss if it can be bought back into use.

New £4million Go! Active facility set to open at end of January

A £4million investment into the Go! Active @The Arc leisure facility in Clowne will be celebrated with a free open day when its doors are opened on Saturday 28 January 2017.

The new facility - being built by Bolsover District Council in partnership with Pulse - will officially open at 10am with a free open day (up until 6pm) for customers to go along, have a look around and try out the activities, completely free of charge.

The free activities will include public swimming, aqua fun sessions, group exercise taster sessions, inductions for fitness suite members and ‘have a go’ sessions in the main sports hall.

Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Mary Dooley said, “This new facility has been long awaited by our local communities and families and I'm very excited for everyone to come and have a look around. It's such an impressive building; and with all the activities we have on offer there really is something for all of the family to take part in and enjoy.

“We wanted the opening to be about our local communities. So rather than spending a fortune on a high profile celebrity, we thought the best way to celebrate, was to have a free open day where people can come along and try out the activities at no cost to them.”

We have invested over £4million into the brand new Go! Active @The Arc facility, that will provide an extensive range of facilities for people to enjoy and become more active.

The building features a 25m pool with six lanes, a learner pool, a 100+ station fully-equipped gym, two group exercise studios, a group cycling studio, a four badminton court sports hall, a soft play area, thermal suite, a cafe and outdoor pitches.

Chris Johnson, Managing Director of Pulse said, “We are proud to be officially opening the new Go! Active later this month. As the council’s strategic leisure development partner our in-house teams have been working hard to create a truly modern and sustainable leisure centre that is fit for the entire community to come and use and we look forward to welcoming everyone through the doors as part of the celebrations.”

The new facility has a range of membership deals on offer including the unbelievable 365 household deal where a household with up to 6 people can sign up to use the fantastic facilities on offer – that’s just £1 a day for the whole household!. Please register your interest and sign up at www.goactive.org.uk

10-minute activity challenge issued to Bolsover’s workplaces

A New Year campaign with a difference aims to spark hundreds more people across Bolsover into taking up an active lifestyle in 2017.

The Active Lunch Challenge will help people to complete ‘bite size’ chunks of exercise of just 10 minutes in and around their working day.

Participants can then log their progress online, set personal targets and check their progress alongside their colleagues – with spot prizes for taking part providing even more of a motivation.

“We know that not having enough time in the day presents the biggest barrier to people staying active every day,” said Rachael Dyer, Sport Development Officer for Derbyshire Sport, who run the challenge locally.

“This is about encouraging people to make the most of their time at work especially during the lightest and brightest part of the day over lunch. By introducing small amounts of activity, it can help adults reach a recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

“Whether that is a quick 10-minute walk to the shop at lunch or taking the stairs to see another colleague, it all counts. Just a little makes a big difference to your life.”

The Active Lunch Challenge is the latest concept by the Derbyshire Workplace Challenge that has already helped more than 2,300 people get up from their desk chairs and get moving.

More than 400 workplaces have signed up, with more than a quarter of people taking part describing themselves as inactive when started.

Of those who have joined so far, 65 per cent of registrations are women with the national This Girl Can underlining the value of staying active.

Bolsover workplaces to get involved include Waistwise in Clowne and Bolsover, Monition, near Whitwell, Walton Hospital, The Arc in Clowne and Bolsover District Council.

The eight-week challenge begins on Wednesday January 4 and runs until February 28. It is free for employees, allowing them to log activity and support colleagues in company-wide, local and national challenges.

It aims to tackle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and help address Public Health England figures that show an estimated 40 per cent of people do not exercise enough.

#JogIntoJanuary breaking down the barriers to getting active this New Year

A campaign running across Derbyshire this New Year hopes to break down the barriers that prevent people from regularly getting active.

#JogIntoJanuary will provide support to complete beginners, who often believe they are not fit enough, are too embarrassed or do not have enough time.

Participants can choose from a host of groups up and down the county, from the High Peak in the north to Derby City and South Derbyshire in the south.

The project is part of the JOG Derbyshire programme, run in partnership with Derbyshire Sport, that has already helped more than 4,000 people get on the move.

“Plenty of our members could not walk upstairs or run 30 yards without getting out of breath, were overweight and preferred the sofa rather than trying to be active, when they first started,” said JOG Derbyshire co-ordinator Cat Wynne.

“But those who give it a go soon realise that they aren't judged and it isn't a race. They are among like-minded people and aren’t the odd one out.

“There’s soon a realisation that getting together with others for what begins as walking interspersed with light jogging is actually fun, makes them feel good about themselves, gives them some 'me' time and helps them make new friends.”

All #JogIntoJanuary sessions are low cost or free and are led by qualified jog leaders, who provide step-by-step instruction, from walking and first running steps to jogging a first 5k.

Those who successfully attend for 10 weeks get a certificate to highlight their progress and those who go on to complete a parkrun or 5k event also get a medal.

"Joining my local Jog into January has been one of the best decisions I have made for my health and wellbeing," said Deirdre Phelan, from the Jog Duffield group.

"With small children, getting to a gym regularly was impossible, but #JogIntoJanuary taught me to jog, and gave me the confidence to run, something I thought I could never do.

#JogIntoJanuary sessions have been arranged in Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derby City, the Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, the High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire.

For full details and to see the full list of where you can get involved, click here.

You can also find out more by contacting our Jog Derbyshire co-ordinators Cat Wynne (07557656201, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Luck Bartles (07971 808783, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

The offices are closed for the Christmas Bank Holiday from 12 noon, 23 December 2016 and will re-open on Tuesday the 3rd of January 2017 at 9.00 am.In the case of an emergency please call 01246 242295

On our website you can make a payment, report a problem, find details of your refuse collection dates or find details of your nearest re-cycling site.

For details of domestic waste, recycling, clinical and trade collections over the Christmas period:

Domestic waste – You should have received a calendar detailing all refuse & recycling collections for 2016/17. Please refer to this or the online version here for details of collection day changes over Christmas & New Year.

There will be no black bin collections 27th of December to 30th December.

Recycling (Burgundy Bin) – Your recycling collections will continue on a fortnightly basis in line with the refuse & recycling calendar. Collection days will remain unchanged. :

Clinical waste - You should have received a letter from the waste team informing of specific collection days.

Trade waste – You should have received a letter from the trade waste team informing of specific collection days and allowed amounts of side waste to compensate for missed collection days.

We would like to take this opportunity towish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year!

Taxi driver fined for using unlicensed vehicle

A taxi driver who used an unlicensed vehicle has been found guilty by Chesterfield Magistrates Court, fined £540 and received 8 points on his licence.

In February 2016, David Howes (33) of New Scott Street, Langwith was stopped by Derbyshire Police and was found to be using his private hire plates on an illegal cloned vehicle being driven without insurance.

As a result his vehicle licence was suspended from being used as a taxi, but in April 2016 he was witnessed by a Bolsover District Council official picking up a passenger in Shirebrook for payment.

When challenged over his activities Mr Howes admitted carrying out private hire work without a licensed vehicle, meaning he committed an offence of allowing a vehicle to be used for private hire work without a licence and that his vehicle insurance was invalidated.

At Chesterfield Magistrates Court on Wednesday 21 December 2016, Mr Howes pleaded guilty to five charges - one of using a vehicle without insurance and a further four relating to offences under the private hire legislation, which included failing to provide his operator records when requested and failing to keep proper records.

The Council is also part of a campaign aimed encouraging people going for a night out drinking to get home safely by planning how they will get home beforehand by pre-booking a licensed taxi or by putting the telephone number of one or two licensed operators in their phone.